21 Answers

ok long process ur gonna need about 45 minutes sometimes only 15 but usually 45 lol here goes
1.turn key on
2.attempt to crank for 2 seconds
3.let key go and leave the key in the run position till the anti theft light goes out approx 10 mins
4.once light is off turn key off
5.repeat 1-4 2 more times for a total of 3 times
6.after turning the key off for the 3rd time it will start
i said possibly 15 minutes because some cars will start after the first cycle but very few

had the same problem. When the car finally started I took the cover off the ignition switch on the steering column. If you look you will see a small connector with two or three wires, that is the Passlock System. I read on the Internet, and it works, to disable the Passlock system all you have to do is start the car and disconnect this small connector from the ignition system and the Passlock system goes into fail safe mode and you won't have any more problems. BUT, the car has to be running while you disconnect the connector.

my 2002 sunfire turns over great ,but will not start,i checked it for spark and no spark. i change the coil and changed the crank sencor , still no start. i will try your 45 minute procedure. i also heard it can be a lose ground on the car , would you be able to tell me where are all the major and minor grounds are found on the car , please and thank you

Did the 45 minute. Cycle. And
worked.........the end to a long
story......had to drill out iggnition lock
cylinder on 2003 pontiac
sunfire....when new lock cylinder was
installed car would not start.....thanks
a million!!!!! The wifey was getting
mad, and wanted her car fixed!!! This
worked!!! Thx..

My son had the problem on his Sunfire 2002 where the engine would crank but no start with the antitheft light on in the Dashboard. We did the procedure mentioned by John at the top of this page and it fixed the problem. Thanks John!!!

This worked for my 2005 Pontiac
sunfire GT. It took 4 tries though.
Don't simply give up after 3 lol!!
I'm a girl but this process was so
easy I figured out my own problem,
diagnosed it myself and with the
help from this page it started right
up!!!:)
Good luck guys

My car has this issue, but it starts.. sometimes. I get in my car at
least once a day and I will crank it and it turns over and then kills
itself. Will this also work for my car??? I sure hope so... tons of
stuff has been replaced already.

I went directly to the pcm after spending all day
on this problem. I found a orange wire with a
black tracker and a pink wire fully corroded. I
put a butt connector on and the car started. And
it's still on the road. Thanks for all the tips but
this was an odd on.